Lecithin compositions



United States Patent 3,480,544 LECITHIN COMPOSITIONS Walden K. Hilty,Chatham, NJZ, assignor to Ross & Rowe, Inc., Fort Lauderdale; Fla'., acorporation of Florida 7 N0 Drawing. Filed Mar. 27, 19.67, Ser. No.625,958 Int. Cl. A23k 7/02; C09k 3/00 US. Cl. 252--1' 1 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In relatively simple manner, novel, low cost,finely divided, free flowing compositions containing oils and highlecithin content are made available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Commercial lecithin is most widelyused inthe food industry and in paint manufacture in two forms. Depending onits Viscosity the material may be liquid or may be plastic in form. Thefluid commercial lecithin product containing 62 to 65% soy beanphosphatides can be withdrawn from drums through a valve and entailsspillage and other problems attendant the handling of liquids. Theplastic lecithin which contains 65.to75% phosphatides, has to be dugfrom the drums In eithercase heavy drums weighing approximately 500 lbs.are used commercially.

To overcome some of these shortcomings, prior attempts have been made tomake lecithin available in a dry, free flowing form. No presently knownform is significantly attractive in either cost or physical form.

Dry, free flowing lecithin compositions wherein the lecithin content isabsorbed on such materials as sugar and salt have been described.However, these compositions are rendered oil-free to avoid otherdisadvantages thus increasing their costs considerably.

In other known dry lecithin compositions, the lecithin content is low,for example up to 20% by weight with dextrose and up to 50% with milksolids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The lecithin compositions of the invention aredry, free flowing compositions ranging in lecithin content topercentages, by Weight, higher thanihose commercially available.Significantly, they contain the naturally occurring oils but aregreaseless in nature. Accordingly, being dry and greaseless, they can bepacked in multiwall paper bags or in light fiber drums. In suchcontainers, the products are easier to handle, being cleaner, and can beweighed out with a minimum of loss.

More specifically, the lecithin compositions of the invention comprisesubstantially all of the naturally occurring components as derived fromsoy bean, corn oil, cotton seed, linseed, etc., for example lecithin,oils, fatty acids, etc., absorbed on finely divided silicon dioxidehereafter referred to as silica. Unexpectedly, the absorbability ofsilica in this form is higher than absorbents previously employed and inparticular, oil absorption capacity of 175 cc. per 100 grams of silicahas been observed and yet the products are still dry, free flowing, andgreaseless. In addition, they contain higher lecithin contents thanpreviously available and, most important, can be manufactured for afraction of previous costs. Also, lecithin in 3,480,544- 7 PatentedNov.25, 1969 ice this form is more readily available to the other componentswith which it might be compounded.

' In accordance. with the invention, the lecithin contents herebyavailable may range up to 70% by weight of the composition. End use willdetermine the lecithin content of the composition and, generally, thiscontent may range from 20 to 70% with a preferred range for most useslying between 30-40% by weight of the composition. As mentioned earlier,these compositions also contain a high percentage of the naturallyoccurrin goils and fatty acids.

The silicas found suitable in formulatingthe present compositions arefinely divided, dry materials having a particle size range of between 5and 25 millimicron. Commercially available silicas such as Cab-O-Silsilica manufactured by Cabot Corporation and Zerofree silicamanufactured by J. M. Huber Corporation are eminently suitable.

In one step in their manufacture, the lecithin containing compositionsare centrifuged. By adjustment of the centrifugal speed, the free oilcontent can be controlled thus resulting in lecithin compositionsranging from liquid to plastic form. Thus, lecithin compositions ofcontrolled lecithin and oil content can be produced.

Any conventional mixing apparatus may be employed to compound thecompositions of the invention. Suitable apparatus include ribbon mixersand dough mixers. In practice, the lecithin containing component isadded to the silica in the apparatus mentaioncd. When a fluid lecithinis employed the temperature is adjusted between room temperature and F.Higher temperatures ranging from 120 F. to 170 F. are employed when aplastic lecithin is used. Generally, lecithins both liquid and plasticcan be mixed with silica in the same manner and in the same proportions.

The following examples will illustrate the invention. Quantities are inparts by weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 To 2 parts of silica, finely divided, having a mean particlediameter of 22 millimicrons, were added 3 parts of a fluid soybeanlecithin. This fluid lecithin was a fluid grade material comprising 62%phophatides as acetone insolubles, having an acid number of 28-32 and amoisture content of less than 1%. These components were mixed by simplestirring at room temperature until a uniform mix was obtained. Theresulting product consisted of 60% by weight of fluid soybean lecithinand 40% by weight of silica. It was a substantially dry, powderedgreaseless product.

EXAMPLE 2 To 2 parts of the silica employed in Example 1 were added 3parts of a plastic lecithin. The plastic lecithin had an acetoneinsoluble content of 65%, an acid number of 18-24 and a moisture contentof less than 1%. Prior to addition, the plastic lecithin was melted byheating to -150 F. After thoroughly mixing the components, a drypowdered, greaseless product was obtained. The product had a lecithincontent of 60% by weight and a silica content of 40% by weight.

EXAMPLE 3 Example 2 was repeated using 15 parts of silica and 35 partsplastic lecithin. The resulting product consisting of 70% by weight ofplastic lecithin and 30% by weight of silica was very dry and greaselesspowder.

It -will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the foregoingexamples are representative of the compositions intended by thisinvention. In particular, it has been demonstrated that compositionshigh in lecithin content and oil content but still greaseless and drycan be prepared. In the form here available, these compositions areparticularly useful in food and in paint manufacture 3. The product ofclaim 1 wherein the lecithin content Without requiring a prior oil phasesolution. Also, the is 60% by weight of the composition, products can bereadily modified for use in fluid systems. 4. The product of claim 1wherein the lecithin content While mentioned last, the cost of preparingthese products i 70% by weight of the composition. is but a fraction ofthe manufacturing cost of previously 5 made granular lecithins.Referellfies Cited Modified fluid water dispersible lecithin,hydroxylated UNITED STATES PATENTS lecithin and solvent fractionatedlecithin can also be 2,693,456 11/1954 Fennell 252-449 utlllliegi theperformance of the ll'lVCIltlOIl. 2,885,358 5/1959 Reddie.

1. A dry greaseless, finely divided, free-flowing lecithin 2,986,5165/1961 Reddle' product consisting essentially of lecithin, naturally oc-ENC S curring oils and free fatty acids in admixture with finely dividedsilica having a particle size range of between Condensed Chemlcal Dlctlonary Remhold 1961 5-25 millimicron, wherein the lecithin contentcomprises 15 from 70% by weight of the composition. U S cl X R 2. Theproduct of claim 1 wherein the lecithin content comprises from to 40% byweight of the composition. 23-182; 9915; 2528.5, 449

